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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Banded iron formation
Department of

Mineral Sciences

Mineral Sciences Icon
Scientists in the Department of Mineral Sciences seek to understand the evolution of the Earth and Solar System by studying samples from environments ranging from the mantle to mine drainages, from volcanic arcs to the asteroid belt. The department is home to world-class collections of rocks, minerals, meteorites, and gems, as well as the instruments our scientists use to study these specimens in detail.
Featured Content

Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program seeks to document, understand, and disseminate information about global volcanic activity. Its weekly and monthly reports provide scientists with a record of ongoing eruptions they can use to guide research and hazard management related to volcanoes.
Volcano erupting with lava streaming down the side. A forest is at its foot and the eruption is reflected in a dark lake.

Using the Collections

Our collection of over 600,000 specimens is available for study by researchers worldwide. Find specimens and request a loan using the links below.

Access the Collections

Collections Overview

Samples Requests & Loan Policy

Reference Materials
Rock Creek sapphires
Search the collection

Instrumentation

Four element maps from the electron microprobe
Electron microprobe
Backscatter image of pyrite crystals
Scanning electron microscope
Melt inclusions in an olivine wafer
Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer
Research Support Facilities

Seminar Schedule

Fall 2019 seminar schedule
Date Title Speaker
Sep 4 Authigenic clay as an overlooked biosignature Erica Suosaari, Mineral Sciences
Sep 11 The Global Volcanism Program: What’s that all about anyway? Ed Venzke, Mineral Sciences
Sep 18 Rock magnetic properties of Romanian loess: Paleoclimatic implications Cristian Necula, University of Bucharest
Sep 25 No seminar (GSA)  
Oct 2 Beyond Wild Rice: The Dangers of Sulfate to Freshwater Ecosystems Amy Myrbo, Science Museum of Minnesota - St. Croix Watershed Research Station
Oct 9 Fabrics in the Martian Shergottites Lucy Forman, Curtin University
Oct 16 No seminar (EBSD workshop)  
Oct 23 Searching for the deep roots of arc volcanoes: Results from iMUSH seismic imaging in the Washington Cascades Geoff Abers, Cornell University
Oct 30 Alluvial fans on Mars: Insights from terrestrial analogue studies Alex Morgan, NASM-CEPS
Nov 6 Pathways from Mafic to Granitic Rocks on the Moon: Constraints from the NWA 773 Clan of Lunar Meteorites Tim Fagan, Waseda University
Nov 13 Where magma is stored below active volcanoes Daniel Rasmussen, Mineral Sciences
Nov 20 To be announced Natalie Raia, University of Minnesota
Nov 27 No seminar (Thanksgiving)  
Dec 4 To be announced George Guice, Mineral Sciences
Dec 11 No seminar (AGU)  
Dec 18 To be announced  

Seminars are held on the fourth floor of the east wing of NMNH and run from 10 to 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Smithsonian personnel who are not members of the department can buzz in at the entrance to the department in the fourth floor elevator lobby prior to 10 a.m. Visitors without SI badges should call the department from the visitor services office, located at the 10th and Constitution Ave entrance to the museum, by dialing Phyllis McKenzie at x31808 or Ioan Lascu at x31815.